Brisbane trainer Barry Lockwood admits he has everything crossed as Tumbler takes her next step towards a trip south for the spring.
Tumbler is generally regarded as the potentially the best mare in Queensland having won seven of her nine starts in a career dogged by injury.
She failed in the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm in April but bounced back with an impressive win at the Sunshine Coast three weeks ago.
Tumbler is set to tackle an open handicap (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Lockwood said he couldn’t be happier with the way Tumbler had gone since the Sunshine Coast but he never got too far ahead because of the mare’s history of injuries.
“Tumbler didn’t handle the Eagle Farm track at all. Then she had a lot go against her at the Sunshine Coast but she was good enough to win,” Lockwood said.
“I will nominate her for Doomben this Saturday and then we can talk about Sydney.”
“I have my fingers and everything else crossed that nothing happens to her this week. I mean it is Tumbler.”
Lockwood said provided Tumbler got through Saturday’s race she would head to Sydney for the Toy Show Quality at Randwick on August 19.
“Hopefully, that will get her started and we can push on to other black-type mares races from there,” Lockwood said.
Lockwood rounded off another good season when Jadedfox won at Doomben on Saturday.
“She has won four races now and we will look for a couple more Saturday events. She’s a Magic Millions horse and there might also be some black-type races for her next year in Brisbane,” he said.
